Rugby World Cup: Du Preez proud to be leading Springboks

"What they will get from me is a captain leading from the front and hopefully making the right calls at the right times," Du Preez says. Photo / Getty Images

Fourie du Preez's route to becoming the 56th captain of the Springboks has been unique given he turned down the opportunity in 2012 and a few months ago was just about certain he would not play again.

After the 2011 tournament in New Zealand, John Smit and Victor Matfield retired, and new coach Heyneke Meyer offered the captaincy to du Preez, who turned it down in taking a new career path in Japan, where he has been based for the past four years.

"It is a tremendous honour and one that I thought I had foregone forever back in 2012," the 34-year-old said.

"Back then, I had not the slightest thought of playing in another World Cup, and then a few months back I injured my knee in a freak training accident and I thought that I might have to retire altogether, never mind go to a World Cup."

But here he is leading the Boks into what is going to be a mighty battle against the fiery Scots.

"I am a man of few words, and fortunately when I look at this team I know that there really is no need for stirring speeches - most of these guys have 'been there and done that'," du Preez said.

"What they will get from me is a captain leading from the front and hopefully making the right calls at the right times."

For Meyer, the words of the halfback are a foregone conclusion.

"I have coached Fourie since he was 19, and even back then he knew he would become a rugby genius," Meyer said.

"He is respected worldwide for his knowledge, and it is no coincidence that wherever he has played, be it the Bulls, Boks or Suntory Goliath, his teams have won.

"When the Boks won the World Cup [2007], and then in 2009 the Tri Nations and beat the Lions, he was arguably the key figure in the team.

"It was an easy decision to make him captain. Yes, Schalk [Burger] has captained the side in the absence of Jean [de Villiers] and Victor [Matfield] in the Rugby Championship but I want Schalk to concentrate on his game and not have to worry about the decision-making [which comes naturally to Du Preez].

"In any case, Schalk be right there helping Fourie, as will Duane [Vermeulen]," Meyer said.

"We have strong leadership in the loose forwards and in the front row. Schalk and Fourie are great mates and have played a lot together at Suntory in Japan."